Library Budget Cuts

Florida Amendment 3 could cut nearly twenty percent of Miami-Dade library budgets.

Amendment 3 could cut nearly 20% of Miami-Dade County's library budget, according to the executive director of Friends of the Miami-dade Public Library. The amendment would reduce the taxable value of primary homes in Florida by $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 by 2028. Ava Habif, the group's executive director, said the money helps fund free services at the libraries, including tutoring, language lessons, social workers, Wi-Fi, and citizenship preparation courses. She said she does not believe a 20% loss in funding could be made up through donations alone. However, Maria Ason, who believes the library could still function through other funding methods, said it could save on housing costs.